Donga Mantung division left in perennial darkness

For close to a month today, inhabitants of Donga Mantung division in the North West region of Cameroon are witnessing epileptic electricity supply.

The situation is affecting activities across different sectors in the community.

According to Nfor Magnus, an advanced level candidate speaking to Mimi Mefo Info on phone: “We are days to the start of the written phase of GCE examinations yet there is no electricity for students and other candidates to study. Science students started the practical phase of their exam on Monday, July 20th with the use of a generator. This has a lot of inconveniences on us”.

The use of generators in examination centers in the division, authorities say has added another financial burden on them as they have to set aside money for the purchase of fuel from local vendors.

Shop keepers and traders in Nkambe, the chief town of Donga Mantung division have opted not to sell items that demand storage in a fridge before commercialization.

“I lost a huge quantity of fresh fish in my shop last week because of no electricity. Am really disappointed given that we sometimes acquire loans to purchase the goods,” a trader told Mimi Mefo Info in anonymity.

The inadequate provision of electricity is equally affecting the process of sensitizing locals to practice COVID 19 barrier measures.

This is because the Donga Mantung Community Radio, DMCR situated in Nkambe no longer functions as it used to when there was electricity.

A journalist from the radio said “We use a standby generator. This is done only for very important radio programs. This is because the cost is really high and management cannot afford it. It is a really difficult situation for effective work”.

In the face of all these, residents of Nkambe and its environs have resulted to an alternative source of energy including using solar panel systems and generators.

The population regrets that the lone electricity company has not issued an official statement on why there is a blackout in a division that is battling against insecurity and other forms of crimes.

ENEO reacts

Mimi Mefo Info reached out to ENEO for comment and the corporation revealed that the disruption of electricity supply in most divisions of the North West region is due to unresolved incidents on the transmission system.

This, it explains further, is because of damage of the 90KV transformer at the Bamenda Substation since February 26 and two damaged pylons on the transmission line since 14 June.

“This situation has put a severe strain on the electricity service but Eneo is however working to reduce, as much as possible, the impact on customers,” it tells customers.

With the entire region depending on the power plant, “there is constant load shedding,” it adds.

Mimi Mefo Info

Image: Archives